Projection timing device



Dec. 20, 1938. D, FRANKLIN 2,141,037

PROJECTION TIMING DEVICE Filed NOV. 18, 1955 INVENTOR.

176mm PEI/mum BY @o z 7720011) A TTORNEYfi.

Patented Dec. 20, 1938 UNITED STATES PROJECTION TIMING DEVICE David Franklin,

Rensselaer, N. Y.

Application November 18, 1935, Serial No. 50,373

1 Claim.

This invention relates to means for correlating a series of pictures with a recorded talk and has to do particularly with a device whereby an electric circuit is closed at appropriate moments during the playing of a phonograph record containing a talk to shift still pictures illustrating the'subject matter of the talk.

The invention has for its objects the provision of a projection timing device which will automatically shift still pictures as a talk concerning the subject matter of the pictures proceeds.

Another object is the provision of a projection timing device utilizing a. slowly moving perforated tape to time changes of still pictures with a talk reproduced by a phonograph record.

A further object is theprovision of a projection timing device for use with a phonograph and a projector to synchronize the shift of still pictures according to a talk on a record on a phonograph, the synchronizing mechanism being driven directly from the turn-table of the phonograph.

These objects and other objects which will hereinafter appear are obtained by the novel construction, combination and arrangement of the elements hereinafter described and claimed.

A device embodying one form of the inventionis disclosed in the accompanying single sheet of drawings hereby made a part of this specification, and in which- Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the external appearance of a device embodying the present invention, together with a phonograph and a projector;

Figure 2 is a front elevation partly in section of the device embodying the present invention with the front cover removed; and

Figure 3 is a diagrammatic illustration showing the arrangement and operation of the device in conjunction with a still picture projector.

The same reference characters are used to indicate like parts throughout the drawing and in the following description.

In the present form of the invention the detape by a power take-off from a turntable carrying a record by which a talk is reproduced, and allowing contacts to meet through the perforations of the tape to close a circuit which actuates a picture shifting mechanism. The tape is perforated at such positions along its length that the picture is shifted at the proper periods in the talk reproduced by the record.

In Figure 1', the case enclosing the device is shown in conjunction with conventional reprosired result is obtained by driving a perforated ducing and projecting mechanisms. The phonograph or reproducer ID has the customary turntable I I, pick-up arm l2, and sound box or microphone I3. A record H is shown in place on the turntable II. The sound box or microphone l3 may be of the mechanical or pneumatic type shown or may be electric. A loud speaker or a reproducing horn, not shown, may beenclosed in the reproducer cabinet In, or a separate speaker may be used. The proper starting point on the record is indicated by and dash 15 or other suitable means. The still picture projector is encased in a housing l6 and may be of any ordinary type preferably being adapted to use films rather than plates.

The timing device embodying the present invention is housed in a case ll having a front door or wall 18, openable upon hinges IS. A knob 20 serves as a handle for opening the door. The edge of the turntable ll projects slightly over the top of the case l1. Secured to the bottom of the turntable H is a toothed ring 2|. The edge of the case I1 is cut away at 22. and the toothed ring 2| passes through or over the aperture left by the cutaway portion as the turntable revolves.

Below the cutaway portion 22 and in position to engage the toothed ring 2| is a gear wheel 23. Gear wheel 23 is secured to a shaft 24 which is journaled in the side wall of the case I1 and in a bracket 25. A worm gear 26 is secured to shaft 24 past the bracket 25. The top end of bracket 25 is in the shape of an inverted L and at the end of the top arm a shaft 21 is journaled, carrying a gear wheel 28 adapted to be driven by the worm 26. A driving roller 29 is secured to shaft 21 for rotation therewith. A second bracket similar to bracket 25 supports the other end of the shaft 21.

Opposite the driving roller 29 is a pressure roller 30. Roller 30 is carried by a shaft 3| which is journaled in two blocks 32 only the one at the near end being shown. Blocks 32 slide in slots at the ends of two brackets 33 secured to a wall of the case ll. Only the nearer bracket is shown. A spring 34 to the right of each block 32 urges the block to the left as shown in Figure 2, and causes the roller 30 to press against the driving roller 29 or against a tape between the rollers.

A tape 35 by which the timing is controlled is originally in a roll 36. The tape 35 is customarily not more than five or six feet long and may be of stout paper. In the timing device the feeding roll 36 of tape 35 is carried in a tape housing 31 which is adapted to receive the roll with one end of the tape projecting therefrom and to allow the roll to revolve and unroll as the tape is pulled. A tape receiving housing 33 similar to the housing 31 receives the tape and causes it to curl up into another roll. The tape between the driving roller 29 and the pressure roller 30 and is pulled thereby and fed into the receiving housing 33.

Between the housing 3! and the rollers 23 and 30 are two opposed contacts 39 and 4| which. in the form shown, are of spring material and are held in position pressing against each other or against the tape between them. As the tape moves, when a perforation reaches the contacts 39 and 40 they are allowed to meet, closing an electric circuit. When the contacts meet a relay comprising an electro-magnet 4|, a bell crank 42, and a contact or switch point is operated to close a circuit carrying a current large enough to operate the picture shifting mechanism.

Figure 3 illustrates diagrammatically the operation of the device. The contacts 39 and 49 are shown meeting through a perforation 43 in the tape 35, closing an electric circuit including a battery 44 and the electro-magnet 4|. When the circuit through the electro-magnet 4| is closed, the horizontal arm of the bell crank 42 is pulled downward and the vertical arm of the bell crank -is shifted into contact with a switch point 45 closing an electric circuit through a picture shifting solenoid 46. The electric power for operating the solenoid 46 may be obtained from a battery or from the customary electric supply system.

When the solenoid .46 is energized it pulls a core 41 into the aperture of the solenoid, and the movement of the core 41 rotates an arm 43 counter-clockwise. The counter-clockwise rotation of arm 48 lifts a picture shifting arm 49. The arm 49 reciprocates vertically in a suitable guide 50. A dog 5| is pivoted near the upper end of arm 49 and is adapted to rotate between a horizontal position and a downwardly slanted position. A spring 52 urges the dog 5| to its upper or horizontal position. A spring 53 serves to pull the shifting arm 49 downwardly when the solenoid 4G is de-energized and the core 41 released.

The film of still pictures is supplied in a roll 54. The film may be of the 35 millimeter motion picture type having perforations along its edges. From the roll 54 the film passes through a projecting frame 55. A projection light 56, a condenser 51, and a projecting lens 58 are shown in position to throw the image of the film on a screen. From the projection frame the film passes between two supporting plates 59 and 60. Plate 60 is slotted to allow the dog 5| to engage perforations along the film,

From the plates 59 and 60 the film passes to a receiving roll 6|.

The shifting arm 49 is of light construction and may be made substantially the full width of the film, carrying a dog 5| at each side thereof to engage each row of perforations in the film.

The operation of the device is as follows:

The record I4 is placed on the turntable and the starting mark I5 is set at the needle. The roll of tape 35 is placed in the lower tape housing 31 and threaded between the contacts 39 and 40, between rolls 29 and 30, about roll 30 as shown and into the tape receiving housing 38. The tape 35 is pulled from roll 36 and past rolls 29 and 30 until a starting mark of any desired type on the tape is in a selected position, as for instance directly between the contacts 39 and 49, and the useful part of the tape, following the starting mark, is ready to pass between the contacts. The film is threaded into the projector and the first picture located in the projecting frame. The turntable II is then allowed to rotate carrying the record l4. As the turntable H rotates the toothed ring ll rotates, turning the gear 23 and driving the roller 29. The surface of roller 29 is knurled or otherwise protected against slippage and pulls the tape 35 from the roll 34 at a rate precisely proportional to the rate of rdtation of the turntable ll. As the talk on the record I4 is reproduced by the phonograph III. the tape 35 moves slowly between the contacts 39 and 43. When the talk has reached a selected stage a perforation in the tape 35 reaches the contacts 39 and 40 allowing them to close the circuit of the magnet 4|, operating the relay to close the circuit of solenoid 46. Thereupon the core 41 is pulled into the solenoid 46 and the shifting arm 49 is lifted toits-top position. As the arm moves upward the dog 5| turns downward spring 53 pulls the arm downward the film is shifted the desired amount, removing one picture from the projecting frame 55 and locating another therein.

The present device may be used with any still projection film and any record adapted to be used with the film. Heretofore it has been customary for the record to give out the sound of a gong at selected times, whereupon the film was shifted manually. When the present device is to be used with such a record and film, an unperforated tape is inserted in housing 31 and threaded between the contacts and rollers and into the housing 39 as described. The record is placed at its starting point and a starting mark is placed on the tape at any selected position, such as between the contacts 39 and 40. The record is then played and a mark is placed upon the tape opposite or between the contacts 39 and 40 every time the picture should be shifted, according to the progress of the talk on the record. The tape is then removed from the device and a perforation made in the tape at each mark, each perforation ending just at the point where the mark indicates the picture should be shifted. The tape may then be inserted into the device as described,

the starting points properly adjusted, and the tape as it passes between the contacts 39 and 40 will cause the picture to be shifted at precisely the desired moments during the progress of the talk on the record.

The invention may be carried out in different ways than that shown, as for instance by means of an air operated mechanism or a photo-electric cell and the like. It will thus be understood that there is herein illustrated and described but a single embodiment of the invention, and it is desired that such invention not be limited to the form shown but only by the claim hereto appended.

What is claimed as new and is desired to be secured by Letters Patent of the United States is:

A projection timing device for use with a phonograph mechanism and a still picture projector comprising a tape drive means having operative association with the phonograph for moving the drive means at a speed proportionate to the movement of the record on the phonograph, a driving surface on said drive means movable therewith, means operatively connecting the drive surface and the tape for moving the tape at all times at the same speed as said drive surface whereby the tape moves at a speed exactly proportionate to the speed of motion of the record, indexing means on said tape, means positioned on said device and actuated by said indexing means as the tape is moved past a given point to shift the pictures in the projector, reciprocable means mounted on said device for movement in a predetermined path and engaging means mounted on said reciprocable means for engaging the film during movement in said path to shift the film a fixed predetermined distance, and means operatively connecting said shifting means and said indexing means to shift the pictures in the projector when the indexing means passes a predetermined point.

DAVID FRANKLIN. 

